Chapter 32
It’s officially Christmas Eve, and the ranch is covered in a thick blanket of snow.
It’s been five days since the accident, and everyone is healing up quite well.
Kit has a swirl of scars running from his forearm to his shoulder, almost resembling the flames that he survived.
Most of which, the doctor thinks will fade except the one on his forearm, which got the worst of it.
But at least he’s not in any pain. At least none he complains about.
Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of how much he cares about me. Of just how much he would sacrifice for me. I never thought I’d find someone who loved me so much.
We find ourselves getting ready for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Aspen Hollow. An event I never thought Kit would want to attend, considering that he hated Christmas—and for a good reason—but he insisted that everyone was going, and so we should too.
But I feel like he’s up to something.
My hair is half-up in a gold ribbon, with boot-cut jeans paired with my blue cowboy boots and a cute vintage sweater to match.
Kit walks out of the room wearing jeans, a blue flannel jacket with a navy hoodie underneath, and the ballcap that I bought for him. His “cowboy hat” that still makes me smile.
He holds out a small bag towards me, with a big smile on his face.
“What’s this?”
He pushes it towards me. “Early Christmas present.”
“And you can’t wait just one more day?”
He glances at the gift bag, shaking his head. Anticipation highlights the pretty blue of his eyes, sparkling in the cool afternoon light streaming in through the window.
With a sigh, I take the bag, opening it up to find a light blue ballcap tucked underneath sparkly tissue paper. The words Cowgirl to His Cowboy are embroidered in navy. Happy tears fill my eyes before I know what’s happening.
“Oh shit. You hate it.” Devastation crosses his face.
“No!” I wipe away tears. “No, I just… I didn’t know receiving a hat would be so emotional.” Fuck, I’m sobbing. “I love it. It’s perfect.” I pull it on my head, not even caring that it messes up my ribbon look. “How does it look?”
He smirks, wiping away stray tears from my cheek. “Like I need you on your knees.”
Heat rushes to my thighs. “My knees?”
He smirks, pulling me into the bedroom. I’m happily choking on it before my next breath.
Half of Main Street is closed off, as well as a few side streets, and the main square is full of people wearing festive colors, Santa hats, and reindeer horns as they gather around the massive Christmas tree.
There are carts selling sweet treats, hot cocoa, handmade gifts made by the locals, a small band playing jazzy Christmas music, and there’s even a booth set up to take pictures with Santa.
It’s all together everything that would normally set Kit on edge, and yet, he’s holding my hand steady, with a confident smile on his handsome face. Striding through the festive madness with an unflinching gaze. I can’t help but stare at him in wonder.
“What?” he asks.
“How are you not panicking about all of this?” As great as things are between us, his past trauma didn’t just disappear. His hate for Christmas didn’t just dissolve. “I mean, I know all of this makes you uncomfortable. You don’t have to pretend with me.”
“I’m not pretending,” he defends with a soft smile. “Truly,” he adds after I give him a disbelieving look. “Look, after the past couple of weeks, Sadie, this doesn’t feel that scary.”
Well, he does have a point.
There was the cow theft. Markus. The main barn going up in flames. Our overnight hospital stay. Yup, there’s been way too much horror in our lives lately. Being surrounded by a Christmas wonderland is a nice change of pace.
“Besides, with you standing next to me, it’s not the worst thing in the world,” he smiles, squeezing my hand.
My heart warms at his response. How did he always know what to say? He is a complete cowboy dream. Perhaps I should make a T-shirt—
“Sadie?” A familiar voice calls out my name, sparking my heart. My brother Jaxson North walks out of the crowd, wearing jeans and a black leather jacket. The rebel he’s always been.
“Jax?” I say his name, and then I’m running towards him.
All of the pieces of my heart feel like they are put back together as he hugs me.
“I can’t believe you’re here. How did you—”
“I told you I was going to visit for Christmas,” he laughs.
I haven’t seen him in a year, and yet he looks the same. Clean-shaven face, short brown hair, and green eyes. The same as our mother’s. Eyes that narrow to slits as they dart to Kit, taking him in. “So, this must be Kit Harlow. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Jax,” I scold.
My brother smirks. “I’m kidding.” He reaches for Kit’s hand. “It’s so good to finally meet you.”
“You, too,” Kit smiles, taking his hand.
“And uh… Sadie told me what you did… about Markus.” Jaxson’s green eyes shine with emotion. “I’m very thankful that you protected her and finally rid us of that asshole.”
Kit chuckles. “My pleasure.”
“It’s nice to have someone looking out for her. I’m always fussing over her,” he rubs his knuckles on the top of my head. The same annoying brotherly gesture he’s done for as long as I can remember.
I smack his hand away.
“I understand the feeling,” Kit replies.
Great. They’re going to bond over my safety.
They begin talking about his role in the army, how he joined, and then Jaxson asks Kit a few questions about the ranch.
Happy to hear that Kit’s hired more security and is invested in keeping me safe for the foreseeable future.
Though I’m slightly annoyed, seeing Kit and my brother in the same space is euphoric.
Two souls that I hold close to my heart, and they’re getting along just as I’d hoped.
Maybe even too well, to be honest.
I’m teary-eyed, heart swelling with emotion when my eyes snap to shiny blonde hair moving through the crowd.
“Averie?” I blink rapidly, questioning if I’m dreaming. As if my heart was missing its other piece, and she magically appeared.
“Go on,” Kit smiles at me, nudging my arm. “We’ll find you later.”
“And you’ll be nice?” I arch a brow.
“Of course I will,” Kit brushes a steady hand on my arm, confirming his words.
“It’s not you I’m worried about.” My eyes zero in on my brother, practically threatening him with my stare.
Jax sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Yes, I’ll behave. We’ve still got lots to talk about anyway,” he smiles, throwing an arm around Kit as they walk away.
Averie smiles once more, and then I’m running to her, wrapping my arms around her. “I can’t believe you’re here!” My voice muffles in her shoulder, breathing in the exotic floral scent of her perfume.
“I’m so sorry, Sadie. I should’ve been here sooner.” She squeezes before letting go, stepping back to view me. “Kit told me what happened. I’ve been gone merely a week, and you’re already running into open flames. Do you have any respect for my love for you?”
I laugh, and we fall back into the same comfortable friendship. The same openness, love, and appreciation as if she’d never left.
Christmas music floats in the air as we drink hot chocolate and fill our faces with peppermint bark and sugar cookies, talking about music, clothing, and a new album that she pitched to her agency.
Apparently, it was just what they were looking for, and I can’t wait to listen to it until my ears bleed.
“I think this will be the one that changes my career. I’m thinking world tours, sell-out concerts in Madison Square Garden, Wembley Stadium...” she drifts off.
Listening to her talk about her dreams fills my heart with joy. Except I can’t stop the sadness from building in my chest. The difference between our lives is as stark as day and night.
Averie’s cheeks suddenly flush bright pink. She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, fidgeting in her seat. I turn to see the cause of the change in her, finding Ryker grinning at her from across the crowd.
“So…” I start, playing with the candy cane in my hand. “Do you have plans to do something about that?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she tries to deflect.
I level my eyes at her. “You. Having the hots for Ryker.”
She chokes on her candy cane. “That’s crazy.”
She’s such a liar, and I’m about to call her bluff. “Why don’t I just call him over here, then? We can—”
Averie grabs my hand before I can signal. “Alright, fine. Yes, okay. Yes.” She fiddles with the silver rings on her finger. “I like his mustache, okay. But that’s all.”
My smile grows wider. “Cute.”
She sighs. “He’s not my type, Sadie. My type is Josh.”
“Josh… right. But is that what you really want?” She’s no stranger to my dislike of her current boyfriend.
“Josh is what I need,” she quips. “We’re similar people with similar dreams.” Her eyes follow Ryker through the crowd. “Ryker doesn’t fit in my world.”
Though I understand her reasoning, there’s a part of me that feels like I don’t either. Perhaps it’s easier to convince herself that she feels nothing for him, and I understand that, too. “You’re not going to forget about me when you become a big star, are you?”
She laughs, squeezing my hand. “Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. My life would suck without you.”
“Good,” I smile, hoping she means those words.
As soon as the sun sets behind the mountains, the town mayor commences the tree lighting ceremony, and we all watch as it lights up brightly in the night. Colorful lights glimmer like incandescent stars as soft snow falls from the sky, brushing my nose as Kit pulls me in for a kiss.
He smiles against my mouth, whispering I love you, and my body melts in his arms. Those three words used to scare me, drown me in my past hurt, but hearing them now feels like being resurfaced. And I know that my heart will always be safe with his.
After the ceremony, we find ourselves following the crowd to Elkhorn Tavern to continue the celebration. Jax and Averie take the lead, conversing on the way like old friends. When we approach the tavern, Kit grumbles when a familiar mechanical Santa greets us.